Clothes-frame



N-PETERS. FHOTCLLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

HIRAM M. FLETCHER, OF NFVPOBT, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

CLOTHES-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,460, dated April 5, 1859.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM M. FLETCHER, of Newport, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hachines for Drying Clothes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, making a part .of this description, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the machine in a position for the reception of the clothes to be dried. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine when drawn up to the ceiling of the room to which it is aixed, after the clothes have been placed upon it. Fig. 3 is a view of a part of the apparatus by which the reel, containing the clothes, is revolved. Fig. 4 is a View of another part of the same apparatus. Fig. 5 is a view of the sectional shaft, or beam, upon which the reel slides when lowered or elevated for the reception or removal of the clothes.

The same letters represent corresponding parts in the various figures.

A, is a plank attached by screws, or nails, to the ceiling, to which another and thicker plank B, which contains the apparatus for revolving the reel, is attached by screws or other obvious means.

C, is the upper portion of the sectional shaft C-D, penetrating the socket E, and upon which the reel frame slides up and down when elevated or lowered.

D, is the lower section of the same shaft.

F, F', F, F, are arms inserted in the sockets E, to which are attached the outside pieces G, G', G, G", bot-h constituting the frame of the reel upon which the clothes to be dried, are placed.

H, I-I, H, I-I, are braces which support the arms F, F, F, F.

I, is a square piece of plank attached to the lower end of the sectional shaft C-D, and supports the reel when lowered for the purpose of receiving the clothes.

K is a metallic spring which holds the reel in place after the clothes have been placed upon it, and it has been elevated to its position near the ceiling.

L, is a cord by which the reel is lowered or elevated.

O, is a, pulley over which the cord L passes.

M and N, are circular pieces of plank into which the sectional shaft C--D is firmly inserted and conned; the diameter of the plank M being greater than that of N, and projecting beyond it at each point of its circumference, thus serving as a support for the whole mechanism of the reel below. The plank B has a circular mortise m, corresponding with the bearing M, into which the latter is received, and in which it freely revolves; and also another and lesser circular mortise n, passing entirely through it for the reception of the circular plank N, and in which the latter freely revolves. The plank A also prevents the reel from rocking by keeping the bearing M in place. The shaft C-D is divided into two sections at S, and when necessary, united at the salne point by the screw Q and the nut B'.

p, p, p, 79, are screws which confine the plank B to the plank A.

The clothes dryer, the construction of which I have above described, is designed solely for use in kitchens, or other apartments of the house used for drying or airing clothes. By being attached to the ceiling it occupies no room which is wanted for other conveniences of the family, and thus obviates the great inconvenience of the common frame used for drying and airing clothes. It is attached to the ceiling of the room by means of the planks A vand B, as seen in Fig. l of the drawings annexed. When it is desired to place clothes upon it for drying or airing, after they have been ironed, the frame is lowered by means of the cord L and the pulley O, as seen in Fig. l. The clothes being placed upon it, it is elevated by the same means to a position so near the ceiling as to prevent the clothes from discommoding persons engaged in the usual domestic occupations in the same room, and firmly confined by spring K. In this position of the reel, the lower por tion of the shaft C-D is removed by unscrewing the same at the section S, as shown in Fig. 5 more particularly. After the clothes have been suliciently dried or aired, the part D of the shaft C-D may be again attached and the reel frame lowered, the clothes removed, and the frame aga-in elevated so as to be out of the way of the occupants of the room. By means of the bearings M and N, the reel may be revolved by the person operating the same, so as to enable her to attach to or remove the clothes from the reel, While standing in the same position.

Having described the construction and inode of operation of my said improvements, what I claim as niy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The plank A, in combination with the plank B, the bearings M and N, and the sectionalshaft C-D, constructed and operating substantially as above described.

2. The sectional shaft `G-D, constructed and operating substantially as above described.

3. The reel frame composed of the parts E, F, Fl, F/, :Fl/7 G, Gl, GII, G/l` H, H', H, H in combination With the sectional shaft C-D, the plank A, the plank B, the bearings M and N, With their corresponding lnoi'tises m, and n, the spring K, the pulley O, and the cord L, constructed and operating substantially as above described.

HIRAM M. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

EDMUND BURKE, FRANCES M. BURKE.- 

